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Post by JJ77 on Feb 20, 2010 18:34:21 GMT -5
Without question a large part of the stories has to do with romance, but not in a harlequin type of way. (which i personally dont like) It's funny, I talk to some readers and they seem to be drawn in by the romance while others are drawn in by the mystery or "super natural" world created in the books.( weres, fae, demons, witches,etc) I personally like them for a nice blending of all of those facets. They're not "heavy" reads by any means lol but for entertainment factor alone they'll suck you in. I really liek sookie's charcter in the books - which are a bit differen than the show. That's more or less what I heard about the series. I may be mixing this series up with another, but it seems i heard that the women in these books arent exactly "strong" / that the males are very dominant ? I may just have to check it out for myself though, now that we've discussed it so much Yeah, good luck with that task LOL I will say this though, anything that gets tweens to read deserves some credit- and so for that I'll give props to the twilight series. In fairness, i have known quite a few adults who said they were good "bathtub" reads (IOW's read in the course of a long soak) and who really enjoyed them. They were just a bit too tame for me.
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ladykc
Junior Member
Posts: 92
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Post by ladykc on Feb 21, 2010 9:58:04 GMT -5
I've been inspired by _Big Love_ to read some accounts my former members of FLDS. I read _Lost Boy_ by Brent Jeffs and _Church of Lies_ by Flora Jessop. I think next I'll try _Escape_ by Carolyn Jessop.
The stories are pretty harrowing - the authors of the two books I've read so far were both abused as children on the compound, Brent by Warren Jeffs (to whom he was distantly related) and Flora by her father. The accounts seem to show that child abuse, while not existing within all FLDS families, is very common, and people just look the other way.
Flora Jessop describes something interesting we don't get from the show, which is that apparently members of FLDS often stink to high heaven. They wear a lot of clothing in the hot Utah desert, and she says their beliefs say that touching your own body is a sin - even to scrub it with soap. The community members shower by quickly by rinsing off, no soap, which doesn't really get them that clean. And they shower only about once a week.
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Post by JJ77 on Feb 22, 2010 2:48:05 GMT -5
I read church of lies also - and also due to the show. lol I though it was an interesting read and found her mostly beleivable - but i did get the feelign that her personal vindetta (understandable btw) made her sensationalize to a degree that took away from the already shocking abuses she described.
I did check out escape but didnt get around to reading it... be sure to post you're thoughts on it , ok?
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Post by rhinestone_cowgirl on Feb 22, 2010 19:09:54 GMT -5
Hi
I personally thought that was one aspect of Flora's book that was untrue, about them not washing regularly and thoroughly; although I have read in Carolyn's book that the soap and toothpaste used to run out due to bad household management; so they must have used it in order for it to run out. Escape is very harrowing as well. I would also recommend the books by Irene Spencer; she was married to a brother of Ervil LeBaron; her book Shattered Dreams is a must read, her husband makes Bill sound altruistic and humble, she also has a new one out specifically about the LeBarons. One of her former sister-wives also has a book called 'His Favorite Wife' I want to read that also to compare their different experiences in what they'd consider to be the same marriage.
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Post by rhinestone_cowgirl on Feb 22, 2010 22:18:39 GMT -5
Hi
I just recently got a new cell phone; and one of the freebies with it was a £20 amazon voucher; so I've just been on amazon and it was just enough to buy Cult Insanity (the new book by Irene Spencer) and the book by Susan Ray Schmidt as well, ended up only having to pay 77p! Will let you know how they are and if they are worth buying or not.
Sophie
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ladykc
Junior Member
Posts: 92
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Post by ladykc on Feb 24, 2010 0:03:48 GMT -5
I know that Flora Jessop's credibility has been questioned by others. She does show some personality/behavior issues that lead to questions. However, I'm a therapist, so to me these personality/behavior issues are indicative of an abusive/dysfunctional home environment such as the one she describes. Someone who is repeatedly molested by her father throughout her childhood is going to come out of the experience with some serious personality and psychological issues. She sounds like she's coped well considering, but in the book she states she's never gone to therapy.
I will probably buy _Escape_ in a few weeks and will let you know what I think.
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Post by rhinestone_cowgirl on Feb 27, 2010 21:12:16 GMT -5
Hi
well 'Favorite Wife-Escape from Polygamy' arrived today; it was very readable and did go a lot into the LeBarons; the author married Verlan LeBaron but also had a brief relationship before marrying Verlan with Ervil, also she is cousins to the Chynoweth family who were heavily involved with the LeBaron blood atonement killings and some of them ended up being killed themselves. The only thing I would say is the book is not very well 'paced', she actually only covers her escape in the last four or five pages; and it feels like she is having to wrap up to stick to some type of limit placed on her by the publishers; the rest of the book is quite long and drawn out. Also it sounds harsh but the author clearly chased Verlan knowing the fact he was married to several women; and it seems about half of the book is about her pursuing him so you do kinda feel like 'well what did you expect?' its not like in Carolyn Jessop's case where she was forced to marry the guy. So for that and various other reasons it is a little bit hard to empathise with the author.
Soph
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Post by rhinestone_cowgirl on Mar 5, 2010 15:26:24 GMT -5
Hi
just read Cult Insanity also; methinks the Big Love writers have been reading up on the LeBarons; first off Irene Spencer keeps mentioning how one of Ervil's wives; Linda Johnson looked/dressed like a man and had extremely short hair (mm Selma; anyone?), also she mentions that after she had to leave the compounds in mexico and go undercover; she got a job working for a busty blonde who barely fit into her clothes, selling what sounds like native American jewellery, not on a shopping channel as they weren't invented in those days but in hotel lobbies and at conferences. You do the math buddy. Lastly; the LeBaron's insane sister was held in a massive 'rabbit hutch' essentially; at their compound in mexico to stop her from escaping. The description of it sounds exactly like the ostrich pen/jail the characters in Big Love were in a few episodes back. Had the book come out in 2008 and not 2009 and with the current cheap grabbing from the headlines storywriting going on this season; I would have said the writers have been doing a straight lift with some things but its still possible they copied from other books on the Lebarons and the wives of Verlan LeBaron.
Sophie
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Post by astrolux on Mar 12, 2010 18:02:44 GMT -5
for a great non-fiction read, Brian Green's "The Elegant Universe" and "Fabric of the Cosmos" are amazing. you will never look at the universe the same way. The best physics for the masses books ive ever read. I have never been so engaged in any books in my life. Highly recommended!!!!
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Post by mottob27 on Mar 31, 2010 15:15:57 GMT -5
If your looking for an easy "beach read" try the Janet Evanovich series. Her books are the numbers books, "One for the money", "Two for the dough","Three to get deadly" and so on. The earlier books are way better compared to the newer ones but still a fun, mindless read.
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Post by mottob27 on Mar 31, 2010 15:21:04 GMT -5
I also read "escape" and passed it along to some friends. The book itself as well as the details around it made it a perfect conversation piece.
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Post by JJ77 on Mar 31, 2010 19:33:41 GMT -5
I ended up checking "escape' out at the library again, and actually read it this time. lol
It was better book that Flora Jessop's imo. They both held bits and peices i found questionable as to factuality , but carolyn jessop's book flowed a little smoother and was more interesting to me bceause it went more into the life she led as a plural wife. I felt her book was somehow more enuine, or maybe that she was easier to relate to b/c she didnt face the kind of horrors that flora did during her childhood.
Where flora Jessop claims that from the time she was a child she basically didnt beleive the way thos in the flds did - Carolyn Jessop started out a beleiver and it was her own life experience (once being married) & Warren Jeff's influence on the flds that changed her views.
On a side note, I immediately googled her daughter (Betty) after reading the book. One link led to another and ir ealized i had already seen interviews with her - she became the "we're not brainwashed" female voice of the flds after the whole yfz thing.
I also found some interesting articles about carolyn's ex husband merril jessop online.
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Post by JJ77 on Mar 31, 2010 19:44:54 GMT -5
BTW, right now i am reading "Carrie" - Stephen King.
I'd never read the book (King is kinda hit / miss for me in general) but i was bummed when i found it and realized how short it is lol
Looking for a good series to get into... any sugestions? (have read a few of the evanovich books mentioned already)
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